Interleukin-1 and the interleukin-1 type 1 receptor are essential for the progressive neurodegeneration that ensues subsequent to a mild hypoxic/ischemic injury

Anirban Basu, Jelena Lazovic, J. Kyle Krady, David T. Mauger, Raymond P. Rothstein, Michael B. Smith, Steven W. Levison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excessive inflammation has been implicated in the progressive neurodegeneration that occurs in multiple neurological diseases, including cerebral ischemia, and elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) have been shown to exacerbate brain damage, whereas diminishing IL-1 levels limits the extent of injury. However, to date there is no consensus regarding which receptor(s) mediates the detrimental effects of IL-1. Because we have previously demonstrated that signaling through the IL-1 type 1 receptor (IL-1R1) is necessary for microglial activation and because results from other studies have implicated microglia as effectors of neurodegeneration, we hypothesized that inactivating the IL-1R1 would decrease the extent of damage caused by a hypoxic-ischemic (H/I) insult. It is shown that a mild insult initiates progressive neurodegeneration that leads to cystic infarcts, which can be prevented by inactivating the IL-1R1. The IL-1R1 null mice also show preserved sensorimotor function at 1 month's recovery. The mild insult induces multiple proinflammatory cytokines and activates microglia, and these responses are dramatically curtailed in mice lacking the IL-1R1. Importantly, the neuroinflammation precedes the progressive enlargement of the infarct, suggesting that the inflammation is causal rather than a consequence of the brain damage. These findings show that abrogating the inflammation consequent to a mild H/I insult will prevent brain damage and preserve neurological function. Additionally, these data incriminate the IL-1R1 as a master proinflammatory cytokine receptor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17-29
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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